Vehicle sealing assembly

Abstract

A scaling assembly includes a first structure having a first flange, a second structure having a second flange that partially overlaps the first flange, a fastener that attaches the first flange to the second flange at a region where the first flange and the second flange overlap, and a seal disposed over the first flange and the second flange.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sealing assembly, comprising:
 a first structure having a first flange;   a second structure having a second flange that partially overlaps the first flange;   a fastener that attaches the first flange to the second flange at a region where the first flange and the second flange overlap; and   a seal disposed over the first flange and the second flange.   
     
     
         2 . The sealing assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first structure comprises a tapered portion at the region where the first flange and the second flange overlap and the seal is disposed over the tapered portion. 
     
     
         3 . The sealing assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a sealing patch disposed between the first flange and the second flange at the region where the first flange and the second flange overlap,   wherein the fastener brings the first flange and the second flange together to compress the sealing patch.   
     
     
         4 . The sealing assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the seal is disposed over the fastener. 
     
     
         5 . A vehicle sealing assembly, comprising:
 a division post having a division post flange;   a door frame having a door frame flange;   a first fastener that attaches the division post flange to the door frame flange at a region where the division post flange and the door frame flange overlap; and   a seal disposed over the division post flange and the door frame flange.   
     
     
         6 . The vehicle sealing assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the division post comprises a first tapered portion at the region where the division post flange and the door frame flange overlap and the seal is disposed over the first tapered portion. 
     
     
         7 . The vehicle sealing assembly of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a first sealing patch disposed between the division post flange and the door frame flange at the region where the division post flange and the door frame flange overlap,   wherein the first fastener brings the division post flange and the door frame flange together to compress the first sealing patch.   
     
     
         8 . The vehicle sealing assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the seal is disposed over the first fastener. 
     
     
         9 . The vehicle sealing assembly of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a quarter panel having a quarter panel flange; and   a second fastener that attaches the division post flange to the quarter panel flange at a region where the division post flange and the quarter panel flange overlap;   wherein the seal is disposed over the quarter panel flange.   
     
     
         10 . The vehicle sealing assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the division post comprises a second tapered portion at the region where the division post flange and the quarter panel flange overlap and the seal is disposed over the second tapered portion. 
     
     
         11 . The vehicle sealing assembly of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a second sealing patch disposed between the division post flange and the quarter panel flange at the region where the division post flange and the door frame flange overlap,   wherein the second fastener brings the division post flange and the quarter panel flange together to compress the second sealing patch.   
     
     
         12 . The vehicle sealing assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the seal is disposed over the second fastener. 
     
     
         13 . The vehicle sealing assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the door frame flange, the division post flange, and the quarter panel flange together form a continuous perimeter of an opening. 
     
     
         14 . The vehicle sealing assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the seal is disposed continuously on the continuous perimeter of the opening. 
     
     
         15 . The vehicle sealing assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the first tapered portion extends from the division post in a forward direction of a vehicle on which the vehicle sealing assembly is configured to be disposed. 
     
     
         16 . The vehicle sealing assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the second tapered portion extends from the division post in a downward direction of a vehicle on which the vehicle sealing assembly is configured to be disposed. 
     
     
         17 . The vehicle sealing assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the division post is formed as a unitary structure with a quarter window backer. 
     
     
         18 . A vehicle comprising:
 a vehicle body;   a rear door frame having a rear door frame flange;   a quarter panel having a quarter panel flange;   a division post extending between the rear door frame and the quarter panel and having a division post flange;   a rear door assembly including a rear door and a rear window disposed over at least a portion of each of the rear door frame, the quarter panel, and the division post;   a first fastener that attaches the division post flange to the rear door frame flange at a region where the division post flange and the rear door frame flange overlap;   a second fastener that attaches the division post flange to the quarter panel flange at a region where the division post flange and the quarter panel flange overlap; and   a seal disposed over the division post flange, the rear door frame flange, and the quarter panel flange.   
     
     
         19 . The vehicle of  claim 18 ,
 wherein the division post comprises a first tapered portion at the region where the division post flange and the rear door frame flange overlap,   wherein the division post comprises a second tapered portion at the region where the division post flange and the quarter panel flange overlap, and   wherein the seal is disposed over the first tapered portion and the second tapered portion.   
     
     
         20 . The vehicle of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 a first sealing patch disposed between the division post flange and the rear door frame flange at the region where the division post flange and the rear door frame flange overlap, and   a second sealing patch disposed between the division post flange and the quarter panel flange at the region where the division post flange and the rear door frame flange overlap,   wherein the first fastener brings the division post flange and the rear door frame flange together to compress the first sealing patch, and   wherein the second fastener brings the division post flange and the quarter panel flange tougher to compress the second sealing patch.